Moorhen

A common bird to the reservoir, seen all year round. Breeds.

moorhen, kev ilsley

1956 - 2 nests with eggs, 6ft & 4ft above water. Willow bushes, built on sticks & rootlets

10/10/57 - 80 birds. (DEP)

05/11/59 - 50 birds

22/12/63 - 57 birds

12/11/64 - 53 birds

1965 - Between 30 & 50 birds

1966 - Up to 43 birds

17/12/67 - Maximum count of 52 birds

12/12/68 - Maximum count of 84 birds. Record count to date. (DEP)

25/09/69 - 54 birds

08/01/70 - 40 birds

28/11/71 - 37 birds

17/12/72 - 29 birds. Bred this year

29/12/73 - 30 birds

1979 - Bred

14/12/93 - 14 birds.

19/11/94 - 20 birds

02/07/96 - Pair & 2 juveniles

??/09/98 - 12 birds, inc. several juveniles

1999 - 2 pairs bred, 6 juveniles seen

??/10/99 - 10+ birds

??/11/99 - 14 birds

2000 - Bred

21/09/01 - 10+ birds

23/08/03 - 11 birds

22/10/04 - 10 birds

19/07/05 - 10 juveniles

01/11/05 - 22+ birds

08/11/06 - 29 birds

27/01/07 - 16+ birds

18/07/09 - 17+ birds

31/07/10 - 23+ birds

2011 - max 7 adults. Bred this year

2012 - max 12+ adults on 30/10. Many Moorhens seen with young 29/07

2013 - Bred, Pair with 2 broods of different ages seen in July. The older juveniles seen to help feed the small chicks

2014 - Max 23+ on 27/08. Bred, a few chicks seen at end of April, pair mating on 15/07

2015 - Max 21 on 03/10. 1 pair bred in May

2016 - More than 1 pair bred. 23+ on 09/08 including juveniles.19 on 12/09, 15 on 29/09, 23 on 30/09. 1 killed by crows on 19/11

2017 - At least 2 pairs bred

2019 - A nest was found 10ft up in a willow on 17/04

2020 - At least 2 pairs bred. Max count 19+ on 22/09

2021 - At least 2 pairs bred. Max count 17 on 01/09, also 14+ on 18/11

2022 - Bred this year. Max 23 on 23/08

2023 - Several pairs bred this year. Max 21 on 16/09